Dolly Parton, Miss “Backwoods Barbie,” has been in the industry for close to 70 years now. She is experienced in her field, and with her experience, she’s become more and more successful. She has been recognized for many of her accomplishments but The Queen of Country Music needs more than just her flowers, she needs her crown. She needs to be recognized for the immense amount of businesses Parton’s name is linked to. Newer generations of singers have been rising in popularity but don’t have the business logic and the marketing team quite like Parton.
Parton launched her first mainstream business in 1986 with the grand opening of Pigeon Forge’s own “Dollywood”. Since 1986, she has grown the “Dollywood” experience with her own water parks and resorts. In 1995, though, Parton started the “Imagination Library;” mailing free books to children from birth to when they finish school. She owns multiple dinner shows in Pigeon Forge as well, “The Dolly Parton Stampede” and “Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show.”
Parton has been in her prime the past three years. In March of 2022, Parton released her collaboration with Duncan Hines; “Baking with Dolly.” Selling cake mixes, brownie mixes, icing, and cooking utensils alike. Later in August of the same year, Parton began her dog clothing business, “Doggy Parton.” In October of that same year, 2022, she released her book “Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones,” where she discussed every single outfit that made Dolly the shining star she is. The book is over 336 pages long.
Last year was her most hectic year ever, starting with the release of her party supplies company, “Celebrate with Dolly” in June. Weeks later, Parton would announce the biggest opportunity she has received, a biographical Broadway musical about her life and career. “Dolly: An Original Musical” is set to be first performed at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville Tennessee later this June.
After her announcement for her musical, Parton got right back down to business releasing her makeup company “Dolly Beauty” in August of 2024. Still in 2024, Parton would release her cookbook, “Good Lookin’ Cookin’: A Year of Meals” alongside her sister, Rachel Parton George, in September. With her new cookbook making its rounds in bookstores around the nation, Parton began her exclusive wine company “Dolly Wines” in September.
Dolly Parton’s music industry gain has never strayed from brilliance and neither has her business ventures. The queen has never failed to make money by simply making others happy and entertained. She deserves not just awards for her incredible songwriting talents but also be seen for her incredibly successful brand she has created. We will have to see what more she has to offer us in 2025.
